Mission Statement
St. John the Evangelist Orthodox Church is a community of Orthodox Christians seeking to glorify God by proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ in its entirety to all people in the Phoenix Arizona valley and beyond through: worship, the sacramental life, education, philanthropy, hospitality, fellowship and the practice of Christian Stewardship.
We are dedicated to fulfilling our Lord Jesus Christ’s commandment to “Go into all the world and make disciples of all Nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that He has commanded” (Mt28:19-20) so that all people may be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.
Our Vision
Our parish’s vision is to grow the Orthodox Church by building a traditional style church, with supporting facilities, where people can come to worship and find healing in Jesus Christ. Our goal is to become a vibrant center of Orthodox life and to help plant parishes throughout the Phoenix Arizona valley area, thereby serving as an instrument in the growth and expansion of Christ’s Holy Orthodox Christian Church.
Parish History
We’ve enjoyed a growing community dedicated to worship, fellowship, education and service over the past 10+ years. What follows is a brief retelling of how it all began.
In January 2005 a small group met with Fr. Matthew Tate, Dean of the Diocese of the West Mission’s Deanery, to discuss the possibility of establishing a parish in Tempe Arizona. A month later, with the blessing of Bishop Tikhon Fitzgerald, the first service was held February 1, 2005 in a parishioner’s home.
From 2005 to 2010, the parish met in a variety of locations – a funeral home chapel, a rented home, and a store front. In 2010, the parish renovated an empty chalet (even installed a dome in the ceiling) and met there for two years. In 2012 we took possession of a commercial space in Tempe that was professionally remodeled to include a sanctuary, kitchen, three Catechesis of the Good Shepherd classrooms, choir room, office space, and a fellowship hall. The first Sunday service was celebrated at the facility on 52nd St. on March 26, 2012.
The church continues to grow, maximizing the capacity of both the current building and parking lot. The parish aspires to purchase land and build a church that reflects the theology of the Orthodox Faith both inside and out. Please keep this vision in your prayers as a part of our mission to bring all people closer to Christ.